The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1887-06-02

HnOuuBGazs:l
TAe aReAliax spriaxs-EaanciPa.
slea Barbecae-rAe !: ApsagieE
Fleet. ex EN
NEWPORT SuLPHUR SPRISGA
Wakulla Co. Fla. May % 1887.
Having for several days SUD ned from rheu-
matte p .ius add ,ortarss dsIerniael to come
here ON the 18th inst, Ard SEQ I'll could notAnd
some relief A WEEKS bathing in aud drinking
OF the waters Of the springs have given me great
relief, and am now quite free from pain.
It's awful dull down here :. no one at the
springs, only three white men and two white
women and about a dozen negro families in
the place. The steamer WalkAtomca Is gone
the saw mill "shut down." and the Beecher
Homestead closed, makes this once nice little
city have dead appearance and lonely aspect.
The colored people had a celebration here on
Friday last. A number Of white gentlemen and
ladies were present. They roasted an OK and
had splendid:dinner. 1t was well cooked aud
nicely arranged on tables prepared for the occa-
sion. The white people were first invited to the
table; AFTER assembling, q colored preacher asked
blessing. The colorel people then all retired
back, except those chosen to.wait on the invited
guests. After partaking of an excellent dinner,
praised by ALL the whites retired and the colored
people took their places around the table, Every
thing passed of pleasantly and the best Of order
and decorum prevailed during the occasion.
The threatening of rain broke up the other ex-
ercises allotted for the afternoon. The colored
people here deserve great praise for the excel
lent dinner they prepared aud their good man.
ners. never saw q more peaceful and orderly
gathering. Their conduct showed that they had
heen we'll raised and knew what good manners
are.
met gentleman here engaged in sponging
and he gave me the following information in
regard to the business He says that there are
now 100 vessels engaged in sponge fishing near
the ST. Marks lighthouse. There are % vessels
from Apalachicola, and 70 from Key West
There are men employed to each vessel. max
ing total Of TOO men. The cost of provisions
for each vessel per month is $4,000. or $4,000
for the season. making a total cost for provisions
alone during the season, of $4,000 In addition
to this are other expenses for ropes, cables. an
chors, sc. These are purchased at Apalachicola
or Key West.
Each vessel gathers 400 punches of sponge at
a trip. The sponges are put into racks near the
light house and dried, and then reloaded and
taken to Apalachicola or Key West and sold.
The Key West vessels make three trips during
the season, Of about eight weeks each. He says
that the largest and best sponge are found about
eight miles southeast Of the st. Marks light
house, and that the greatest portion Of the sponge
fishing is done n sight of the light house. In
bad weather the vessels lay at the Spanish Hole
and at ST. Marks. They get their wood and wa
ter at St. Marks. He says that a majority of the
spongers would rather sell their sponges and get
their supplies at St. Marks, if they could, as it
would save unloading and reloading Of sponges,
and "a days spent per season per vessel in going
to find market These "a days could be saved
| by market at ST. Marks, and employed in gath
ering sponge and adding to The profits to the
business Prices for sponge per bunch at Apa-
lachicola is $3.50; at Key West, 1926.
The estimated amount of sponge taken per
season by the Apalachicola feet is 26,40O
punches, valued at $4,000. by the Key West
feet, 80 900 punches, valued at 1904 200; max
ing total amount taken by both fleets Of $780,
200.
| rom TIC dUONC IL VIII NC oSSA '''oS
the people Of Wakulla, Jefferson and Leon coun-
ties are letting over quarter Of million OF dol
lars worth of natural products that costs no man.
ual labor and money TO produce and prepare for
market, except the gathering and drying, taken
as IL were nv... ''.-;- doors by other people
to market and sold and the proceeds applied to
enrich and build up other places If the citizens
of Key West can find it profitable to build, fit
out and provision vessels and 60 800 miles more
distant to engage in sponge fishing, why cannot
those who live so near, or nearly 26 miles away
from the sponeing grounds, find it more pro6ta
Bile to fit out vessels at Newport or St. Marks to
be employed in the same.
The number of men engaged in sponge fishing
in sight ofthe ST. Marks light house is estimated
at 700. The number of persons wives and chill
dren) depending on them for support are about
1000 Suppose they were all settled at Newport
or ST. Marks there at once would be place of neal
$500 persons, wanting at least $4,000 worth o.
provisions per annum. thus furnishing market
to farmers, gardeners, &C., for their vegetables
poultry, eggs and other products The loss tc
the people of Wakulla, jefferson and Leon coun-
ties by the sponge fishing not being controlled
| Dy them, anu having place. ior Ht'inS OUT Fes
sells at Newport or st. Marks and a ready mar
ket there for sponges, is over half million Of
dollars annually BY having oyster and fish
canning factories at either Newport or st. Marks
when the sponging season is over, the vessels and
crews could be employed in catching fish and
oysters for the factories and by this means coulC
be employed the entire year, and would bring
thousands of dollars annually to this section O
the State. II. q. RPPEY.
p S.-There were 8 schoOners and slOops a
st. Marks May 21st for wood and water.
| For the FLoRIDIAN